The Osceola times., 1887-07-09
RUM-SELLING--OUR COUN
TRY'S SCOURG E, AND THE
REMEDY.
BY w. JENNINGS DEMoRKsr.

w neIi we look OVcT Tue icnRtn anu
breadth of thus splendid country,
with its mighty forests. fertilizing
streams, and vast industrial resources
we cannot but exclaiIn, "Ah! tina,
the trail of the serpent should be
over it ALL" Yes, the deadly serpent
Of Intemperance is trailing his Shiny,
poisonous influence every where.
We call ourselves great people
u Christian people; but what people
ever rose to the heights Of greatness
with an incubus like this?
We call ourselves a free people;
but who are free who sre slaves t.
this body and soul.dcstroying vice:
No, my friends we have a great r..
form to accomplish before we ca,
justly call ourselves free or q
Christian people.
There are certain reforms that tn.
advancing march Of civilization i'm.
peratively demands, and one OF these
reforms the Prohibition movemen,
represents.
Mems minds are stirred as the,
never have been before on this grea,
question; they are looking at thi,
matter in the light OF oonscientiou,
conviction.
One of our statesmen once said
"To me the Temperance movemrn,
is Of the largest and mcst profound
national significance. l consider il
almost identical with the success Of
self government. The education Of
the intellect and the safeguard Of tn,
morals are the two great corner.
stones on which the responsibility OF
ballot-bearing community rests
1t would take the tongue Of an an.
gel to depict the ori,ninsiity and
wretchedness the liquor traffic en-
genders.
Truly is this traffic "A pest,lence
that walketh in darkness "a destruc.
tion that wasteth at MONDAY" Wha,
fills our prisons, our poorhouses, our
iunatic asylums, our hospitalsY What
supplies the gallows with victims
What blights the happiness of home
and brings curse upon itp Wha,
sends many poor wife to her pillow
in tears, praying that she may never
see the morning light9 What bru.
talizes men and degrades women
The deadly crime Of Rum Selling
This awful scourgc of humanity
scourge that has done more to bru.
talize and degrade the world, and to
fill it with poverty, disease, and orime
than all others combined.
Liquor.selling is the great author
and instigator Of our oriminals-the
leader into the dark labyrinths OF
human wretchedness that cannot be
iathomed.
Viewed from every standpoint
economic, social and rehgious--it is
the parent Of all other crimes. There
is no more important question now
before the public-none that Sc
closely affects the welfare of man
kind aud the Christian church.
To the political economist it is q
question Of the greatest possible i'm.
portance. Think of it; the country
spends yearly in liquor more than
half the national debt. More money
is spent for intoxicating liquors than
it takes to keep the wheels of gov.
ernment in motion. Give US Prohi.
bition and all this wealth will be
turned into its proper channels. VIZ
do not want to see the workman car.
ry his wages on Saturday night snd
leave il with the rum.seller, while
bis children cry for bread, and BIZ
wife pawns article after article oi
her scanty household store; but we
want to see him take 1t home, and
throw sunshine where be has cast
only sbawdows before.
We want to make him feel that
ssan honest man 10 The mobiles: work
of God an1 thai . sober man is q